Post 134: Where do the Easels Go?

Where do the Easels Go?

I've been shopping for a heavy-duty studio easel for some time now in the hope's of scoring a great deal on a great easel at starving-artist prices. Oh, I want it to fold up and bend every way imaginable including tilting and laying flat. I want it have locking wheels. And most assuredly be very stable - no shake, rattle and roll (except when needed to). It's good to have a dream...Maybe you need a great deal on an easel too?

Buying New Easels

I'm dreaming of an H-Frame Studio Easel (sing that to "White Christmas" please). I look at the online art websites and I look at Amazon and Wayfair. I read the easel reviews for the year. I browse my local Hobby Lobby and Michael's in person and online. For awhile it was so overwhelming because there are SO MANY choices. And oh my gosh, SO MANY prices! I've seen them from just under $100 to $6000 plus.

 

Anyone's Main Easel Considerations:

• Your budget
  
• Your space dimensions (pay special attention to the height!)
  
• Where you are using it - indoor and/or outdoor
  
• What size canvases do you plan to paint with it?
• What type of art you produce?

How much are you willing to spend on the easel you are considering? You can probably find an easel to fit your budget and needs if you do your homework.

What will fit best in the space you plan to use it in? You must look at the amount of floor space the easel uses as well as how high your ceilings are. Measure before you buy! Look at the footprint of the easel.

If you want to carry it outdoors to paint, you will need something portable and lightweight enough to get it where you need it AND not so light that it will blow away on a windy day.

Generally, what size canvas do you prefer to paint on? If you paint large canvases and you have high ceilings, great. You'll need an easel that is sturdy enough to handle that. 

Some easels have features that make it easier to work with depending on the medium you use. The tilt forward to the tilt to horizontal should be considered.

Types of Easels

Compact Easels

A-Frame or Lyre

Bench or Donkey Easels

Table Top

I-Frame or Single Mast

 

Outdoor and Portable Easels - Set these guys up anywhere

French 

Field

 

Heavy Duty Easels - the Mack Daddy of Easels

H Frame

Wall Mount 

 

Painting Stations / Taborets / Art Desks

Basically, art furniture

Stool or Chair?

Do you paint standing or seated or optionally both? Then you need a stool or chair, with or without a back, preferably with height adjustment.

 

 

Photo by Taylor Floyd Mews on Unsplash 

Easel Bells and Whistles Features to look for:

• Materials used - wood (beech, elm, oak, mahogany) or aluminum
  
• Stability
• Portability
  
• Ease of use 
• Size
  
• Tilt
  
• Ease of putting it together
• Weight
• Masts 1 or 2
  
• Adjustable height - minimum and maximum
  
• Ability to handle multiple canvases and/or very large canvases
  
• Quality hinges, lockable castors, floor levelers, knobs, ratchets, crank
  
• Storage space included
  
• Built in palette

Used Easels

Then there is the question of why can't I find a used easel, a nice easel that needs a new home? I watch Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist Northern Virginia to search for an easel that would suit my needs. So far, no luck. Maybe they get snatched up so fast that I miss it. 

But where do all the easels go when an artist no longer uses those easels? Do they pass them along to their kids or artist friends? Do they move them to the attic or the back of the garage for layers of dust to accumulate? -GASP- do they put them in yard sales?

Where do the used easels go?

 

 

Photo by Justyn Warner on Unsplash 

 I do need to make a decision on "the right easel for me" soon...back to the search...

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Local Art: Visit us at Clearbrook Center of the Arts at 2230 B Tackett’s Mill Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4
AND at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

Post 131: PWAS Artist's and their Easels

PWAS Artist's and their Easels

I find it fascinating to see what other artists use to get their art work done, don't you as well? I like to see the tools they use from small to large, how their setup is, and probably the most important piece of equipment - what easel they use. As my continuing search for the best easel for ME continues, the artists at the Prince William Art Society share a look into their studio easels.

PWAS Artists Share Easel Info

Otis Stanley

I use a Studio RTA easel. It's a folding travel easel. Easy to set up with built in storage for paints and brushes and has adjustable height for different frame sizes. 

I like this one because it's easy to fold away and light weight for travel. Any frames larger than a 16x 20 I would recommend something more sturdy.

Bettie Sperty

About my easel: Years ago I bought an aluminum Stanrite easel. I had used one in a class, I didn’t have any experience with any other easel and it was affordable. It did the job ok, but had it’s limitations. 

Then a few years ago I decided to treat myself to a better, more versatile easel when I saw a phenomenal sale online at Jerry’s Artarama. And I’m happy I did. I have limited space - like many artists - and this one didn’t take up too much floor space, could be easily moved and is very versatile. It adjusts from completely vertical to totally flat and every angle in between, holds up to a 71” canvas. I’ve been very happy with it.

Barbara Abel

I have large drawing table which I've had for about 40 years.  It can tilt from flat to straight up.  The picture shows the wood, but I usually cover it with thick cardboard and the wood is about 1 1/2 inch thick so I can clip photos or lists or whatever to the wood.  When the table is flat, I can pad it and use it to cut mats, which I don't do much anymore.

I love the table and haven't seen any modern ones that I would rather have.

Sometimes I think of getting a small portable easel for outdoors, but probably wouldn't use it much.

John Hartt

In my studio I nailed a few sheets of homasote to the wall. I thinks it’s made out of recycled boxes and is designed as a sound insulation. It takes nails and pushpins well, so can hold big and lightweight pieces well. It’s super convenient to hang tools and pallet paper at the ready. I have one sheet I use in my home studio that I’ve been using for over thirty years.

This Christmas I got this easel by Artistic (https://artristic.com/product/artristic-tripod-mounted-easel/?wmc-currency=USD). It’s great when I’m bringing a large piece to a live painting event. It attaches to the back of the canvas, allowing access to all four sides of the gallery wrap canvas. It tilts, and rotates easily, great when you need to find that comfortable painting position.

Donna Liguria

At the moment, I have table top easels, several of them and very inexpensive folding easels that will not do for large canvases. They are much too flimsy. My search is helped with the above recommendations as I do want something to handle bigger pieces, but something that will also tilt and fold up when needed. I agree with Bettie above - it's all about the space.

Thanks everyone for your input!

I did have to look up "homasote" as I had no idea what that was. From Wikipedia: "Homasote is a brand name associated with the product generically known as cellulose based fiber wall board, which is similar in composition to papier-mâché, made from recycled paper that is compressed under high temperature and pressure. Homasote contains no adhesives. It is held together by the surface tension between the paper fibers, a process that is augmented by hydrogen bonding and the presence of a wax binder (2% volume). It is available in multiple thicknesses and comes in sheets 4 by 8 feet (1.2 by 2.4 m)."

 What do you recommend as an easel?

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Local Art: Visit us at Clearbrook Center of the Arts at 2230 B Tackett’s Mill Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4
AND at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

Post 104: Art Topic - What Is on Your Easel Right Now?

Art Topic - What Is on Your Easel Right Now?

The first Art Topic of the year, the topics are sent out to PWAS Members about once a month, so these are a few of the replies people sent back.

PWAS Members Show - What Is on Their Easels Right Now

Otis Stanley - "After several b/w paintings I'm happy to again to return to a full color project. Looking forward to sharing this with the public soon."

 

"Untitled" (for now) 16x20 Acrylic on Canvas

 

Andrea Castaneda

 

"2022" 24x30 Oil on Canvas

Ana Quispe

"Tiger" 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas

Bettie Sperty - "I’m currently working on a couple of versions of the same subject- honey bottle with peaches.  Neither is finished just yet. One will be a gift for our friend, Carl David. (which will be on the honey bottle label) 

I often work on a couple of similar things at the same time. Mostly because I can’t decide exactly how I want them to look. Tooooo any ideas!"

 

"Untitled 1" 12x12 Acrylic on Canvas

"Untitled 2" 11x14 Oil on Canvas - I started with this one, which is why it’s farther along

John Hartt - "I’m working on this piece, it’s based on a religious pamphlet I found informing me about the evils of alcohol."

 

"Hi There" 16x20 Oil on Canvas

 

Brenda Vann - "For the past couple of months I’ve been experimenting with stencils. So stencils are on my easel and some of my recent experiments are on my display wall."

Donna Liguria - "I have 2 going at the moment. It keeps me busy and out of trouble. Tends to make my walls crowded though."

 

 

"Treasure Chest" 16x20 Acrylic on Canvas

 

 

"By the River" 12x12 Acrylic on Canvas 

 I like having a view into how other people work, which you can sometimes get with posts like these "Art Topics". What do you think?

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Local Art: Visit us at Clearbrook Center of the Arts at Tackett's Mill in Lake Ridge, VA on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 – it’s free to see the artwork! Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.